Drumcree among issues for debate as church's General Assembly meets

Four issues are likely to stimulate most debate at the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's General Assembly, which begins in Belfast this evening. Drumcree, perhaps inevitably, looms large. The ethical investment of church funds will be discussed once again, particularly in the context of the arms industry.

A softly, softly affirmation of church recommendations on homosexuality will probably not please traditionalists. The same constituency is unlikely to be happy at moves by the church to join the newly-constituted Conference of Churches in Ireland, which includes the Roman Catholic Church. All will be dealt with at the Assembly session on Wednesday.

A strongly-worded, even angry, report from the church's general board which observed that the situation at Drumcree "commends neither Protestantism nor the Christian faith to the millions who watch all over the world . . ." is unlikely to please Presbyterians who are Orangemen.

The report, in its "parades and protests" section, did not equivocate in apportioning blame for Drumcree 1998. "Had all concerned heeded the clear call of the General Assembly that, if no local accommodation were reached, the determination of the Parades Commission be obeyed, violence and widespread civil disorder would have been avoided."

It continued that it was to be regretted that the clear advice of the church's General Assembly, its general board, and its church and government committee was "so comprehensively ignored by an organisation which claims to be Christian and which enjoys the hospitality of many Presbyterian churches".

It gave thanks that people are free to worship anywhere and at any time in the North, but pointed out that "parading to and from church is not a similar absolute civil and religious right since it impinges on the rights of other people. The rights of residents' groups are not absolute either".

A resolution from the church and government committee calls on all involved at Drumcree to co-operate fully with the Parades Commission "and, in the event of no agreement being reached, to abide by the lawfully taken determinations of the Parades Commission".

A resolution from the church's peace and peacemaking committee commends the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook's "stated intention to develop an ethical foreign policy, sensitive to basic human rights . . . ", while another calls on the church's trustees to consider its investments in the light of the arms trade report.

That report implicitly criticised NATO. It quoted a commentator as saying that the failure of the alliance to cut its military spending in line with that done by former Warsaw Pact countries was to squander an opportunity to lessen tension and increase world stability.

The recommendations on homosexuality reiterated the church view in a spirit of non-judgmentalism. The response should be compassionate and understanding, while affirming that "sexual intercourse should take place in the context of monogamous heterosexual marriage", it said.